Flooded field, lost smiles

Once alive with children's laughter and football matches, the lone playground of Chargolabari Government Primary School in Jorkhali union of Jamalpur's Madarganj upazila now resembles a stagnant pool.

According to locals and school authorities, this vital space remains waterlogged for nearly four months every year. Consequently, students are deprived of sports and physical activities, while residents who visit the Union Parishad office beside the field also face immense difficulties.

The importance of the field is undeniable. It is surrounded by Jahanara High School, Chargolabari Government Primary School, the Union Parishad office and two religious institutions. Yet, despite its central role in community life, it still lacks a proper drainage system. As a result, even a brief spell of rain leaves it unusable for days.

The situation is particularly disheartening because just last year, in 2023, Chargolabari Government Primary School became the champion of the National Gold Cup Football Tournament. But today, its young champions have no ground left to practise on.

"We come to school, but the field is under water. Football practice has stopped," sighed Raihan, a fifth grader. Fellow budding footballer Siam took it one notch up, saying, "Everything has stopped."

Parents watch with equal worry. With sports gone, Babul Sarkar noted, children now spend entire days on their phones. "If only there was drainage," he said, "they would return to play."

For Headmaster Shahinur Islam, the sight is especially bitter. "We were champions, yet today our children cannot even step onto their own field," he reminded.

Teachers fear what this drought of play will do in the long run. "The ground is more than a field," said Jannatul Ferdous. "It is the heart of our sports culture. If it stays closed, the quality of players will wither away."

Asked about the issue, Upazila Education Officer Nurul Amin said, "If government funds are allocated, steps will be taken to fill the field and resolve the waterlogging. Meanwhile, a temporary solution will be sought in consultation with the local administration."

Echoing this, Madarganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Nadir Shah told The Daily Star, "I am aware of the matter. Initially, we wanted to address the waterlogging using funds from the union parishad and the district council. But the required amount exceeds our budget. It would be more effective if the project is undertaken by the Department of Primary Education Engineering."

For now, however, the children who once lifted a national trophy are left stranded -- dreams of football glory drowned in the very field that once nurtured them.